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Bolt excels on Diamond League debut

Usain Bolt was dominant in the 200m and clocked another impressive time © Getty Images

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Usain Bolt was in supreme form as the Olympic champion cantered to victory in the 200m on his Diamond League debut in Shanghai.

The 23-year-old double world record-holder blitzed the field to cross the line in an impressive 19.76 seconds - some 0.58 seconds ahead of Angelo Taylor, while fellow American Ryan Bailey took third spot.

Bolt, who worked on improving his start in pre-season, had a smooth pick-up out of the blocks before turning on the burners to power home.

The Jamaican has begun the season in sparkling fashion, having also won the 100m in Daegu with a time of 9.86 and he will now travel to the Czech Republic on Thursday in a bid to break Michael Johnson's world 300m record.

"It was a good run, the feeling was good but it was not easy. I am not in the best of shape but I enjoyed it and I look forward to the next race. I really wanted a good time, because I am not going to come to China very often," he said.

If he continues in this vain, Bolt could stand to win just over £55,000 worth of diamonds come the end of the Diamond League series. One thing is for certain, Bolt will definitely not be targeting any new world records this season.

"This year I'm not going to chase any records. I said it doesn't matter if I get beaten this season. If Tyson (Gay) decides that he want to break the world record and is going to chase it, that's fine with me and I've got no problem with that," he added.

Liu Xiang, making his first outdoor appearance of the season, had to settle for third place in the 110m hurdles. The former Olympic and world champion didn't quite have the pace to trouble Olympic bronze medallist David Oliver - who ran 12.99 to take victory ahead of Liu's countryman Shi Dongpeng.

Jeremy Wariner ran a season's best to win the men's 400m with Britain's Michael Bingham behind in third, while Jenny Meadows finished second to Janeth Jepkosgei in the women's 800m.

Meadows, who claimed a bronze medal in the 2009 World Championships, got her tactics spot on in an excellent performance that saw the 29-year-old narrowly beaten by the slightly stronger Kenyan.

Elsewhere, Jessica Ennis clocked an impressive time in the 100m hurdles at the Loughborough International meeting. The world heptathlon champion, who heads to Austria next weekend for a multi-events meet, was delighted with her wind-assisted mark of 12.85 seconds.

"I feel really good. Everything's gone to plan and I'm feeling a lot stronger and quicker," she said.

Dwain Chambers meanwhile, clocked 10.11s in the 100m at the Brazilian Grand Prix in Rio de Janeiro, but it was only good enough for second behind Mike Rodgers.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.